Two Stage High Retention Fastener

ABSTRACT

A fastener system for use with an air bag includes a fastener having a rounded base having a flat portion, and first and second arms oriented transverse to the flat portion. A first set of engagement devices is connected proximate the rounded base. A second set of engagement devices is connected spatially separated from both the first set and the rounded base. A vehicle component has a dog-house. The rounded base is received and engaged in a dog-house cavity connecting the fastener and vehicle component. The vehicle component displaces upon air bag deployment from a first engagement position having the first engagement device set engaged with a vehicle body panel, to a second engagement position having the second engagement device set engaged with the vehicle body panel. A second fastener sliding part allows telescopic extension of the vehicle component.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to automobile fastener clips used to joincomponents to a vehicle body.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background informationrelated to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

For automotive applications, fasteners are used to join trim or panelmembers to sections or metal body portions of the automobile. Therequirements for these fasteners are that they be insertable intoapertures of the automobile and meet requirements to both retain thecomponent as well as provide a minimum pullout retention force such thatthe component is retained under given load conditions but can be removedwithout damaging the component. Common fastener designs include directlyopposed flexible wings which deflect inwardly upon insertion of thefastener and expand by spring force to hold the fastener within anaperture such as a slot in the automobile.

A drawback of commonly used fasteners occurs for certain applications,including fasteners used to mount trim or instrument panels, or for trimcomponents which cover air bags. In the first instance, it is commonthat access to the space behind the trim or instrument panel is desired,however removal of the entire trim piece or panel may be undesirable dueto weight or realignment concerns. For trim member applications coveringan air bag, deployment of the air bag often displaces the trimcomponent, however, it is undesirable for the trim component to freelydisassociate from the body portion of the automobile. To preventdisassociation, fasteners have been created having two-part assemblies,with one part connected to the vehicle body and the second partconnected to the trim component or panel member. These fastener designscommonly include a tether which allows the trim or panel component todisplace while preventing disassociation from the first part andtherefore from the vehicle body. A drawback of these fastener designs isthe tether only loosely retains the trim or panel member which can stillresult in realignment problems, or inadvertent disconnection ofelectrical connectors, or the like.

SUMMARY

According to several embodiments of the present invention, a fastenersystem for use with an air bag has a fastener including a rounded basehaving a flat portion, and first and second arms oriented transverse tothe flat portion. A first set of vehicle panel engagement devices isconnected to the fastener proximate to the rounded base. A second set ofvehicle panel engagement devices is connected to the fastener spatiallyseparated from both the first set of vehicle panel engagement devicesand the rounded base. A vehicle component has a dog-house homogenouslyconnected thereto. The rounded base is slidably received within andengaged with the dog-house to releasably connect the fastener to thevehicle component. The vehicle component is adapted to be displaceableupon deployment of an air bag.

According to further embodiments, a fastener assembly includes a firstmember having first and second arms each including first and secondelongated slots. A second member is slidingly engaged with the firstmember, the second member having first and second body portions eachincluding first and second tabs extending toward an opposite one of thefirst and second body portions. A plurality of dimples are created oneach of the first and second body portions. The plurality of dimples ofthe first body portion extend into the first and second elongated slotsof the first arm in a first engaged position of the first and secondmembers, and the plurality of dimples of the second body portion extendinto the first and second elongated slots of the second arm in the firstengaged position. The first and second tabs of the first body portionare slidingly positioned within the first and second elongated slots ofthe first arm, and the first and second tabs of the second body portionare slidingly positioned within the first and second elongated slots ofthe second arm.

According to further embodiments, a telescoped second engaged positionof the fastener assembly has the first and second tabs of the first bodyportion each in contact with an end wall of the first and secondelongated slots of the first arm, and the first and second tabs of thesecond body portion each in contact with an end wall of the first andsecond elongated slots of the second arm. The telescoped second positionalso has the plurality of dimples of each of the first and second bodyportions displaced out of the first and second elongated slots of boththe first and second members.

According to further embodiments, a fastener system includes a firstmember having a rounded base having a flat portion and first and secondarms oriented transverse to the flat portion. The first and second armseach include first and second elongated slots. A second member isslidingly engaged with the first member. The second member has first andsecond body portions each including first and second tabs extendingtoward an opposite one of the first and second body portions. Each ofthe first and second tabs are slidingly received in one of the first orsecond slots allowing the second member to slide in a first directionaway from the rounded base. A dog-house is homogenously connected to apolymeric member. The dog-house receives and engages the rounded base ina second direction transverse to the first direction.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. It should be understood that the description andspecific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

FIG. 1 is front perspective view of a fastener assembly for a two stage,telescoping high retention fastener of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is front perspective view of a first member of the fastenerassembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the first member of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the first member of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the first member of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is front perspective view of a second member of the fastenerassembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the second member of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the second member of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the second member of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view showing a pre-assembled condition ofthe fastener assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the fastener assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the fastener assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a partial cross sectional front perspective view of adog-house assembly adapted to receive the fastener assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of the fastener assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a partial cross sectional side elevational view of asub-assembly of the fastener assembly of FIG. 1 engaged with thedog-house assembly of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a partial cross sectional side elevational view of thefastener sub-assembly of FIG. 15 after engagement with a vehicle bodypanel;

FIG. 17 is a partial cross sectional side elevational view of thefastener subassembly of FIG. 15 after partial displacement away from thevehicle body panel;

FIG. 18 is a partial cross sectional side elevational view of thefastener subassembly of FIG. 15 after full displacement away from thevehicle body panel;

FIG. 19 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of a fastenerof the present disclosure;

FIG. 20 is a side elevational view of the fastener of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a top plan view of the fastener of FIG. 19; and

FIG. 22 is a partial cross sectional side elevational view of anassembly of the fastener of FIG. 19 to an automotive vehicle panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is notintended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. Itshould be understood that throughout the drawings, correspondingreference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

Referring to FIG. 1, a fastener assembly 10 includes a first member 12which is releasably and slidably connected to a second member 14. Firstmember 12 includes a rounded base 16 having curved ends extending from aflat portion and substantially parallel, opposed first and second legs18, 20 extending transversely with respect to the flat portion. Firstleg 18 includes a first elastically flexible arm 22. Similarly, secondleg 20 includes a second elastically flexible arm 24. First leg 18 andfirst elastically flexible arm 22 are oriented as substantially a mirrorimage configuration of second leg 20 and second elastically flexible arm24. First member 12 can be made of a metal such as spring steel, or fromother materials including one or more polymeric materials.

Second member 14 defines a U-shape and includes first and second bodyportions 26, 28 which are connected by first and second joining bands30, 32. First and second joining bands 30, 32 are homogenous extensionsof first and second body portions 26, 28. A first tab 34 and a secondtab 36 are homogenous extensions of first body portion 26. First andsecond tabs 34, 36 are formed by a cutting, piercing, stamping, orsimilar operation performed on first body portion 26 and bent to extendfrom first body portion 26 toward second body portion 28. Second bodyportion 28 also includes each of a first and second tab 34′, 36′ whichare not clearly visible in this view which are mirror images of firstand second tabs 34, 36. First body portion 26 also includes each of afirst, second, third, and fourth alignment dimple 38, 40, 42, 44. Firstand third alignment dimples 38, 42 are coaxially aligned with first tab34. Similarly, third and fourth alignment dimples 42, 44 are coaxiallyaligned with second tab 36. Second body portion 28 also includes each ofa corresponding first, second, third, and fourth alignment dimples 38′,40′, 42′, 44′ which are mirror image copies of first, second, third andfourth alignment dimples 38, 40, 42, 44. Second member 14 can be made ofa metal such as spring steel similar to first member 12, or from othermaterials including one or more polymeric materials.

First body portion 26 further includes a first engagement member 46which extends to an opposite direction with respect to first and secondtabs 34, 36. Similarly, second body portion 28 includes a secondengagement member 48 which is a mirror image configuration of firstengagement member 46 and similarly extends away from second body portion28 in an opposite direction with respect to first and second tabs 34′,36′.

Referring to FIG. 2, first member 12 further includes parallel first andsecond elongated tab receiving slots 50, 52. First and second elongatedtab receiving slots 50, 52 extend in a direction transverse to roundedbase 16 and are each created in first leg 18. Similarly, second leg 20includes each of a third and fourth elongated tab receiving slot 54, 56which are mirror image configurations of first and second elongated tabreceiving slots 50, 52. The elongated tab receiving slots 50, 52, 54, 56are closed-ended slots and each include at least an end wall 53′, 53″,53′″, 53″″ and opposed side walls 57, 59 respectively. Each of a firstand second tab alignment member 58, 60 homogenously extend from a freeend of first leg 18. Similarly, each of a third and fourth tab alignmentmember 62, 64 homogenously extend beyond a free end of second leg 20.First and second tab alignment members 58, 60 are oriented at an anglewith respect to first leg 18 and bent toward each of a third and fourthtab alignment member 62, 64 which each homogenously extend from secondleg 20 in a mirror image of first and second tab alignment members 58,60.

Positioned between first and second tab alignment members 58, 60 is afirst assembly alignment member 66 which homogenously extends from firstleg 18 and is commonly angled with respect to first and second tabalignment members 58, 60. Similarly, a second assembly alignment member68 is positioned between each of third and fourth tab alignment members62, 64 homogenously extending from second leg 20, and commonly angledwith respect to third and fourth alignment members 62, 64 toward firstassembly alignment member 66.

All of the features shown for first member 12 are created from variouspunching, stamping, bending, or other similar operations performed on asheet or plate of material such as spring steel or commonly molded froma polymeric material in a single mold operation. Other metal materialsor polymeric materials can be substituted for spring steel for eitherfirst member 12 or second member 14. Spring steel is selected forseveral embodiments of the present disclosure to provide a spring orbias force tending to retain first and second legs 18, 20 in the generalconfiguration shown in FIG. 2 during installation or subsequent use offastener assembly 10.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, first member 12 can also include a cavity 70created between first and second elongated tab receiving slots 50, 52 offirst leg 18. Similarly, first member 12 can also include a cavity 70′created in second leg 20 between third and fourth elongated tabreceiving slots 54, 56. First member 12 has a first member height “A”, afirst member base width “B”, a first member base height “C”, a legspacing dimension “D”, a flexible arm non-deflected spacing “E”, and afirst member length “F”. According to several embodiments, first memberheight “A” is approximately 27.0 mm, first member base width “B” can beapproximately 14.4 mm, first member base height “C” can be approximately3.2 mm, leg spacing dimension “D” can be approximately 4.4 mm, and firstmember length “F” can be approximately 24.0 mm. Flexible armnon-deflected spacing “E” is a distance measurable between each of afirst flexible arm convex portion 72 and a second flexible arm convexportion 76. According to several embodiments, flexible arm non-deflectedspacing “E” can be approximately 7.8 mm. A first flexible arm concaveportion 74 and a second flexible arm concave portion 78 are each createdat a free end of first and second flexible arms 22, 24, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 6 and again to FIG. 2, each of the first, second,third, and fourth alignment dimples 38, 38′, 40, 40′, 42, 42′, 44, 44′are created on outward facing surfaces of first and second body portions26, 28. A rounded raised surface 80 is therefore created on each of theinward facing surfaces of first and second body portions 26, 28 (i.e.:the surfaces between first and second body portions 26, 28). A diameter“X” of each of the rounded raised surfaces 80 is smaller than a spanwidth of the first, second, third, and fourth elongated tab receivingslots 50, 52, 54, 56 shown and described in reference to FIG. 2. Each ofthe rounded raised surfaces 80 are therefore intended to fit within theelongated tab receiving slots 50, 52, 54, 56 to help prevent rotation ofthe second member 14 when second member 14 is engaged with first member12 to create fastener assembly 10 (described in reference to FIG. 1).Each of the first and second engagement members 46, 48 also include afirst engagement wing 82 and an opposed second engagement wing 84 whichextend substantially transverse to a planar surface 85. A cavity 86, 86′is created in each of first and second body portions 26, 28 when firsttabs 34, 34′ are created. Similarly, a cavity 88, 88′ is created in eachof first and second body portions 26, 28 when second tabs 36, 36′ arecreated.

Referring to FIGS. 7-9 and again to FIG. 1, second member 14 has asecond member width “G” which is substantially equal to first memberlength “F” described in reference to FIG. 5. A second member slot 90 hasa second member slot width “H” which allows second member 14 to beslidably received on first member 12 allowing clearance for each of thefirst and second flexible arms 22, 24. Second member 14 also has asecond member height “J”. According to several embodiments, secondmember width “G” is approximately 24.0 mm, second member slot width “H”is approximately 8.0 mm, and second member height “J” is approximately25.6 mm. The dimensions provided herein are for example only and can bemodified at the discretion of the manufacturer to suit various sizes andgeometries of fastener assemblies 10 of the present disclosure.

First and second tabs 34, 34′, 36, 36′ are positioned proximate to freeends of each of first and second body portions 26, 28. The free ends offirst and second body portions 26, 28 are separated by a first legspacing dimension “K”. The first and second joining bands 30, 32 definea second leg spacing dimension “L”. According to several embodiments,first leg spacing dimension “K” is equal to or less than second legspacing dimension “L” so that as second member 14 is engaged with firstmember 12 a spring or biasing force is created by temporary separationof first and second body portions 26, 28 which acts to elasticallyreturn first and second body portions 26, 28 to the configuration shownin FIG. 8 when first and second tabs 34, 34′, 36, 36′ engage within theelongated tab receiving slots 50, 52, 54, 56 of first member 12described in reference to FIG. 2. In the non-deflected state shown inFIG. 8, free ends of first and second engagement members 46, 48 areseparated by an engagement member spacing dimension “M”. According toseveral embodiments, first leg spacing dimension “K” is approximately4.9 mm, second leg spacing dimension “L” is approximately 5.3 mm, andengagement member spacing dimension “M” is approximately 9.3 mm.

Referring more specifically to FIG. 9, a tab extension dimension “N” ofsecond tab 36 is representative of each of the first and second tabs 34,34′, 36, 36′ such that each of the first and second tabs 34, 34′, 36,36′ extend from first and second body portions 26, 28 by tab extensiondimension “N”. Both of the first and second engagement members 46, 48have an engagement member width “P”. According to several embodiments,tab extension dimension “N” is approximately 1.5 mm and engagementmember width “P” is approximately 7.2 mm.

Referring to FIGS. 10 through 12, second member 14 is shown aligned withbut prior to engagement with first member 12. Each of the first tabs 34,34′, the first alignment dimples 38, 38′, and the second alignmentdimples 40, 40′ are coaxially aligned along a first alignment axisdefined through a center of both first and third elongated tab receivingslots 50, 54. Similarly, second tabs 36, 36′, third alignment dimples42, 42′, and fourth alignment dimples 44, 44′ are coaxially aligned witha center of second and fourth elongated tab receiving slots 52, 56. Assecond member 14 is slidingly engaged with first member 12 in anengagement direction “Q”, first and second tabs 34, 34′ and 36, 36′engage with corresponding ones of the first tab alignment member 58 andthird tab alignment member 62, or with second tab alignment member 60and fourth tab alignment member 64 respectively.

Sliding engagement of the first and second tabs 34, 34′, 36, 36′ withthe tab alignment members 58, 60, 62, 64 elastically deflects first bodyportion 26 away from second body portion 28 of second member 14 (bybending at first and second joining bands 30, 32) until by continuedengagement in engagement direction “Q” the first and second tabs 34,34′, 36, 36′ engage within the elongated tab receiving slots 50, 52, 54,56. Thereafter, each of the first and second tabs 34, 34′, 36, 36′ canslide within their respective one of the elongated tab receiving slots50, 52, 54, 56 allowing second member 14 to telescopically slide withrespect to first member 12. Continued engagement of second member 14 inengagement direction “Q” positions the alignment dimples 38, 38′, 40,40′, 42, 42′, 44, 44′ in respective ones of the elongated tab receivingslots 50, 52, 54, 56. The alignment dimples 38, 38′, 40, 40′, 42, 42′,44, 44′ thereafter prevent rotation of second member 14 with respect tofirst member 12. When second member 14 is fully engaged with firstmember 12, both first and second assembly alignment members 66, 68 arepositioned proximate to a cavity 97 created between first and secondjoining bands 30, 32.

Referring more specifically to FIGS. 11 and 12, in the assembledcondition of fastener assembly 10, first and second engagement members46, 48 are freely deflectable within cavities 70, 70′. Fastener assembly10 has a fastener assembly height “R” which according to severalembodiments of the present disclosure is approximately 30.6 mm.

Referring now to FIG. 13, a dog-house 98 can be homogenously connectedto a member 99 such as a trim member adapted for installation on anautomobile vehicle. Dog-house 98 is created from a polymeric materialwhich can be co-molded with the member 99. Dog-house 98 includes a firstwall 100 and an opposed second wall 102. A rear wall 103 together withfirst and second walls 100, 102 support an upper wall 104. A slot 106 iscreated in upper wall 104 so that dog-house 98 can slidably receivefastener assembly 10 (shown in reference to FIG. 15). A lower wall 108which is substantially parallel to upper wall 104 provides a beam 110homogenously extending upwardly as viewed in FIG. 13 from lower wall 108and parallel to slot 106. Beam 110 includes a planar surface 1 1 1.First and second walls 100, 102, rear wall 103, upper wall 104, andlower wall 108, together define a cavity 112. An engagement tooth 114 ishomogeneously created on surface 111 proximate to rear wall 103 andextends upwardly as viewed in FIG. 13 away from surface 111.

Referring to FIG. 14 and again to FIG. 13, rounded base 16 of firstmember 12 of fastener assembly 10 includes an elongated slot 116 createdin a substantially flat portion 117 of rounded base 16. An edge face 118defining a first end of elongated slot 116 is provided to engage withthe engagement tooth 114 described in reference to FIG. 13 when fastenerassembly 10 is slidably inserted into cavity 112 of dog-house 98. Theengagement between edge face 118 and engagement tooth 114 provides apositive engagement of fastener assembly 10 within dog-house 98.

Referring to FIG. 15, fastener assembly 10 is shown following horizontalinstallation within cavity 112 of dog-house 98. In this position, thelower surface of rounded base 16 is in slidable contact with surface 111of beam 110. At the same time, an upper surface 120, 120′ of roundedbase 16 is frictionally engaged with a lower surface 122 of upper wall104. The remaining portions of fastener assembly 10 extend freely andtransversely away from dog-house 98 through slot 106.

Referring to FIG. 16, a sub-assembly 123 having fastener assembly 10engaged with dog-house 98 can be used by inserting fastener assembly 10starting at second member 14 into a longitudinal slot 124 created in abody panel 126 of an automobile vehicle (not shown). Fastener assembly10 is inserted in an insertion direction “S” until an upper surface 128of dog-house 98 contacts body panel 126. First engagement member 46 andsecond engagement member 48 both elastically deflect toward each otheras they are inserted through longitudinal slot 124 then return to theirnormal extended positions. Subsequently, first and second flexible arms22, 24 elastically deflect toward each other as first flexible armconvex portion 72 and second flexible arm convex portion 76 pass throughlongitudinal slot 124. When body panel 126 is in contact with uppersurface 128, first and second flexible arms 22, 24 elastically deflectoutwardly until first flexible arm concave portion 74 and secondflexible arm concave portion 78 individually contact opposed side wallsof longitudinal slot 124. First flexible arm concave portion 74 andsecond flexible arm concave portion 78 are each sized (e.g.: depth andlength of curvature) to accommodate a plate thickness “T” of body panel126. According to several embodiments, plate thickness “T” can rangefrom approximately 0.8 mm to approximately 1.5 mm. This range can beincreased or decreased by modifying the geometry of first and secondflexible arm concave portions 74, 78. With the sub-assembly 123 ofdog-house 98 and fastener assembly 10 in contact with body panel 126, apull force “Y” of approximately 50 pounds is required to displacedog-house 98 from body panel 126 by overcoming the biasing and staticfriction forces created by first and second flexible arm concaveportions 74, 78.

Referring to FIG. 17, when the pull force “Y” of approximately 50 poundshas been achieved, for example by expansion or release of an air bag 130positioned behind or in contact with member 99, separation betweensub-assembly 123 having dog-house 98 and fastener assembly 10 can occurwith dog-house 98 and member 99 moving in a displacement direction “U”with respect to body panel 126. Displacement in displacement direction“U” continues until body panel 126 contacts first and second engagementmembers 46, 48. At this time, first member 12 is still in completeengagement with second member 14 such that first and second tabs 34,34′, 36, 36′ are positioned proximate to first and second flexible arms22, 24.

Referring to FIG. 18, after body panel 126 contacts first and secondengagement members 46, 48 further displacement of dog-house 98 indisplacement direction “U” causes a sliding displacement between secondmember 14 and first member 12 with each of the first and second tabs 34,34′, 36, 36′ retained in sliding engagement with the elongated tabreceiving slots 50, 52, 54, 56 (not visible in this view) of first andsecond legs 18, 20. Sliding displacement of first member 12 with respectto second member 14 forces first, second, third, and fourth alignmentdimples 38, 40, 42, 44 to displace from the elongated tab receivingslots 50, 52, 54, 56 (not visible in this view). Sliding displacement offirst member 12 with respect to second member 14 continues until firstand second tabs 34, 34′, 36, 36′ contact the end walls 53′, 53″, 53′″,53″″ of the elongated tab receiving slots 50, 52, 54, 56 (not visible inthis view).

At this time, a clearance dimension “V” is provided between body panel126 and upper wall 104 of dog-house 98. According to severalembodiments, clearance dimension “V” can be approximately 24.8 mm.Clearance dimension “V” allows manual access to squeeze together firstand second body portions 26, 28 as well as first and second legs 18, 20with a force to inwardly displace first and second engagement members46, 48 so that first and second engagement members 46, 48 are drawntoward each other and can be withdrawn through longitudinal slot 124 ofbody panel 126 to completely remove fastener assembly 10 and dog-house98 from body panel 126. Clearance dimension “V” can also provide forlimited access between member 99 and body panel 126, for example forinstallation of electrical wires, tubing, and the like.

Referring to FIGS. 19 through 21 and again to FIG. 1, according toadditional embodiments a fastener 140 is created as a single piece,homogenously formed member. Fastener 140 includes a rounded base 142having a flat portion 148 and an elongated aperture 150 similar torounded base 16, and first and second legs 144, 146 extendingsubstantially transverse to flat portion 148. A first flexible arm 152homogenously connected to first leg 144 is created and oriented similarto first flexible arm 22, first flexible arm 152 having a first flexiblearm convex portion 156 and a first flexible arm concave portion 158.Similarly, a second flexible arm 154 homogenously connected to secondleg 146 is created and oriented similar to second flexible arm 24,second flexible arm 154 having a second flexible arm convex portion 160and a second flexible arm concave portion 162. First and secondelastically displaceable engagement members 164, 166 are substantiallyidentical in design and function to first and second engagement members46, 48, except first and second engagement members 164, 166 arehomogenously connected to first and second legs 144, 146 and are notdisplaceable with respect to rounded base 142.

Fastener 140 has a fastener height “W”, a base width “Z”, a base height“AA”, and a base length “DD”. According to several embodiments, fastenerheight “W”, base width “Z”, base height “AA”, and base length “DD” aresubstantially equal to first member height “A”, first member base width“B”, first member base height “C”, and first member length “F”respectively, of fastener assembly 10, so that fastener 140 can engagedog-house 98 and provides a similar space envelope for engagement withvehicle body panel 126. Fastener 140 further includes a flexible armspacing dimension “BB”, and a flexible arm non-deflected spacing “CC”,which are similar to comparable dimensions of fastener assembly 10.

Referring to FIG. 22 and again to FIGS. 15-18, fastener 140 is engagedwithin cavity 112 of dog-house 98 in the same manner as fastenerassembly 10. An edge face (not shown) of elongated aperture 150 contactsengagement tooth 114 when rounded base 142 is slidably inserted intocavity 112 in a first direction facing away from the viewer as shown inFIG. 22. Similar to fastener assembly 10, fastener 140 is loaded bypulling or forcing displacement of member 99 in a second direction by aforce “Y” (downward as viewed in FIG. 22) which is substantiallytransverse to the first direction for installation of fastener 140 indog-house 98 described above. First and second flexible arms 152, 154releasably engage the walls of aperture 124 of vehicle panel 126 in afirst engaged position 168 similar to fastener assembly 10. First andsecond elastically displaceable engagement members 164, 166 contactvehicle body panel 126 in a second engagement position 170 similar tothe intermediate engagement position shown in reference to FIG. 17.

Fastener 140 does not provide the telescoping function of fastenerassembly 10, therefore a clearance dimension “EE” between first andsecond engaged positions 168, 170 of vehicle body panel 126 is less thanclearance dimension “V” provided by fastener assembly 10. Fastener 140is also used in applications which can include displacement of vehiclemember 99 due to expansion or activation of air bag 130. Similar tofastener assembly 10, a load or force of approximately 50 pounds is alsorequired to displace dog-house 98 from the first engaged position 168for fastener 140, and a load or force of approximately 200 pounds can bewithstood by first and second elastically displaceable engagementmembers 164, 166 prior to yielding of the material of the engagementmembers 164, 166.

According to several embodiments, member 99 can support or enclose anair bag assembly (not shown) for an automobile vehicle (not shown).During deployment of the air bag, the fully installed position offastener assembly 10 in body panel 126 as shown in reference to FIG. 16will change to the fully extended position shown in reference to FIG. 18having clearance dimension “V”. A high retention capability of fastenerassembly 10 is provided as a pull force defined as approximately 200pounds or greater is required to yield the material of first and secondengagement members 46, 48 or the first and second tabs 34, 34′, 36, 36′.Therefore, deployment of the air bag will not cause displacement indisplacement direction “U” of sub-assembly 123 in excess of clearancedimension “V”, thus retaining member 99 in connection with body panel126.

Referring again to FIGS. 4, 13, 17, 20, and 22, a width “FF” of the slot106 created in dog-house 98 is adapted to substantially equal or beslightly greater than a spacing between the flexible arm concaveportions 74, 78, 158, 162 of fastener assembly 10 and fastener 140, butwidth “FF” is less than member base width “B” and base width “Z” offastener assembly 10 and fastener 140. The legs (18, 20) of first member12, and the second member 14 of fastener assembly 10, and the legs 144,146 of fastener 140 can therefore extend outward of dog-house 98 throughslot 106 of dog-house 98. Width “FF”, however, prevents rounded base 16of fastener assembly 10 or rounded base 142 of fastener 140 from beingpulled out of cavity 112 when load “Y” is longitudinally or coaxiallyapplied to the fastener (10, 140) which acts to move the rounded base(16, 142) and the dog-house 98 in displacement direction “U”.

Fastener assemblies 10 of the present disclosure offer severaladvantages. A two-stage telescoping design of fastener assembly 10provides a normally installed position having fastener assembly 10 fullyinserted within a body panel of an automobile vehicle. In a first stageor position, the fastener assembly and dog-house are engaged with a bodypanel of a vehicle. By pulling with or exerting a force greater thanapproximately 50 pounds on member 99 tending to pull member 99 away fromthe body panel 126 of the vehicle, a telescoping or sliding motion ofthe first and second members 12, 14 of fastener assembly 10 occurs. Africtional sliding displacement is restrained at a second stage orposition by contact between first and second tabs 34, 34′, 36, 36′ ofsecond member 14 contacting end walls of tab receiving slots created infirst member 12. The second, displaced position of fastener assembly 10allows for manual removal of fastener assembly 10 in addition toproviding a clearance space between the member 99 and the body panel126. Dimples created through the first and second body portions 26, 28of second member 14 which are positioned within the elongated tabreceiving slots of first member 12 provide for fastener assemblyalignment and prevent rotation of second member 14 with respect to thefirst member 12.

By frictionally engaging a rounded base of fastener assembly 10 withinthe dog-house, fastener assembly 10 can be slidably fit into thedog-house in a first or horizontal direction. This engagement positionprevents withdrawal of the fastener assembly in a second or longitudinaldirection of the fastener assembly which is the direction of loadapplication upon release of an air bag assembly. This connection of therounded base into or within a cavity of the dog-house improves onfastener designs having bight members within the fastener whichexternally engage a spade or blade member extending away from a trimmember body, but which can release upon application of an air bagdeployment load. In the present disclosure, the rounded base can bemanually removed from the dog-house by sliding in an opposite directionfrom the installation direction, but the second direction is stilltransverse to the load direction applied during air bag deployment. Thefastener assembly 10 can also be releasably removed from its secondstage engagement with the dog-house by inserting a tool such as ascrewdriver into the dog-house and prying the rounded base away from itsengagement with the engagement tooth of the dog-house. This provides forcomplete replacement of fastener assembly 10 and/or complete replacementof member 99.

1. A fastener system for use with an air bag, comprising: a fastenerincluding a rounded base having rounded ends extending from a flatportion, and first and second arms oriented transverse to the flatportion; a first set of vehicle panel engagement devices connected tothe fastener proximate to the rounded base; a second set of vehiclepanel engagement devices connected to the fastener spatially separatedfrom both the first set of vehicle panel engagement devices and therounded base; and a vehicle component having a dog-house homogenouslyconnected thereto, the rounded base adapted to be slidably receivedwithin a dog-house cavity and engaged with the dog-house to releasablyconnect the fastener to the vehicle component, the vehicle componentadapted to be displaceable upon deployment of an air bag from a firstengagement position having the first set of engagement devices engagedwith a vehicle body panel to a second engagement position having thesecond set of vehicle panel engagement devices engaged with the vehiclebody panel.
 2. The fastener system of claim 1, wherein the flat portionof the rounded base includes an elongated aperture created in the flatportion having an edge face.
 3. The fastener system of claim 2, whereinthe dog-house includes an engagement tooth adapted to contact the edgeface to positively engage the fastener with the dog-house.
 4. Thefastener system of claim 1, wherein the dog-house includes a pluralityof walls defining the cavity, the rounded base of the fastener adaptedto be slidably received within the cavity in a first direction, whereinthe vehicle component is displaceable in a second direction transverseto the first direction.
 5. The fastener system of claim 1, wherein thesecond engaged position having the second set of engagement devices incontact with the vehicle body panel follows deployment of the air bag incontact with the vehicle component and displacement of the vehiclecomponent with respect to the vehicle body panel, the second engagedposition operating to prevent further movement of the vehicle body panelwith respect to the rounded base of the fastener, the fastener beingremovable from the vehicle body panel in the second engaged position bydisplacing the first and second legs toward each other within aclearance created between the dog-house and the vehicle body panel. 6.The fastener system of claim 1, wherein the first set of vehicle panelengagement devices includes: a first flexible arm homogenously connectedto the first arm proximate to the rounded base; and a second flexiblearm homogenously connected to the second arm, the first flexible armdefining a mirror image of the second flexible arm proximate to therounded base.
 7. The fastener system of claim 1, wherein the second setof vehicle panel engagement devices includes: a first engagement memberhomogenously connected to the first arm spatially separated from boththe first flexible arm and the rounded base; and a second engagementmember homogenously connected to the second arm spatially separated fromboth the second flexible arm and the rounded base, the second engagementmember defining a mirror image of the first engagement member.
 8. Thefastener system of claim 1, wherein the fastener includes a secondmember having opposed first and second body portions each slidablyconnected to one of the first and second arms using at least one tabextending from each of the first and second body portions slidablyreceived in a longitudinal slot created in each of the first and secondarms.
 9. A fastener assembly, comprising: a first member having firstand second arms each including first and second elongated slots; asecond member slidingly engaged with the first member, the second memberhaving first and second body portions each including first and secondtabs extending toward an opposite one of the first and second bodyportions; and a plurality of dimples created on each of the first andsecond body portions, the plurality of dimples of the first body portionextending into the first and second elongated slots of the first arm ina first engaged position of the first and second members, and theplurality of dimples of the second body portion extending into the firstand second elongated slots of the second arm in the first engagedposition.
 10. The fastener assembly of claim 9, wherein the first andsecond tabs of the first body portion are slidingly positioned withinthe first and second elongated slots of the first arm and the first andsecond tabs of the second body portion are slidingly positioned withinthe first and second elongated slots of the second arm.
 11. The fastenerassembly of claim 10, further including a telescoped second engagedposition of the fastener assembly having the first and second tabs ofthe first body portion each in contact with an end wall of the first andsecond elongated slots of the first arm, and the first and second tabsof the second body portion each in contact with an end wall of the firstand second elongated slots of the second arm, the telescoped secondposition also having the plurality of dimples of each of the first andsecond body portions displaced out of the first and second elongatedslots of both the first and second members.
 12. The fastener assembly ofclaim 9, further including first and second joining bands homogenouslyjoining the first and second body portions such that the second memberdefines a substantially U-shape.
 13. The fastener assembly of claim 12:wherein the first and second body portions proximate to the first andsecond joining bands are separated by a first spacing dimension; andwherein the first and second body portions opposite to the first andsecond joining bands are separated by a second spacing dimension, thesecond spacing dimension being less than the first spacing dimensionsuch that contact between the first body portion and the first memberand between the second body portion and the second member extends thefirst and second body portions opposite to the first and second joiningbands outwardly to substantially equal the first spacing dimension,creating a biasing force adapted to retain the first and second tabswithin the first and second elongated slots.
 14. The fastener assemblyof claim 9, wherein the plurality of dimples operate to prevent rotationof the second member with respect to the first member by contact betweenthe plurality of dimples and opposed walls of the elongated slots in thefirst engaged position.
 15. The fastener assembly of claim 9, whereinthe first and second arms of the first member are parallel to each otherand the first arm defines a mirror image of the second arm.
 16. Thefastener assembly of claim 9, wherein the first member includes arounded base having a flat portion, the first and second arms beingoriented transverse to the flat portion.
 17. The fastener assembly ofclaim 9, further including: a first flexible arm homogenously connectedto the first arm; and a second flexible arm homogenously connected tothe second arm, the second flexible arm defining a mirror image of thefirst flexible arm.
 18. The fastener assembly of claim 9, wherein eachof the first and second body portions include tab alignment members eachadapted to slidingly contact one of the first and second tabs ofindividual ones of the first and second body portions to align the firstand second tabs with individual ones of the first and second elongatedslots when the first and second members are engaged.
 19. The fastenerassembly of claim 18, wherein the tab alignment members are oriented atan angle with respect to the first and second body portions.
 20. Afastener system for connection to a vehicle component, comprising: afastener including: a first member having a rounded base having a flatportion and first and second arms oriented transverse to the flatportion, the first and second arms each including first and secondelongated slots; and a second member slidingly engaged with the firstmember, the second member having first and second body portions eachincluding first and second tabs extending toward an opposite one of thefirst and second body portions, each of the first and second tabsslidingly received in one of the first or second slots allowing thesecond member to slide in a first direction away from the rounded base;and a dog-house homogenously connected to a vehicle component, thedog-house adapted to receive the rounded base in a second directiontransverse to the first direction.
 21. The fastener system of claim 20,wherein the fastener includes a plurality of dimples created on each ofthe first and second body portions.
 22. The fastener system of claim 21,wherein the plurality of dimples of the first body portion extend intothe first and second elongated slots of the first arm in a first engagedposition of the first and second members, and the plurality of dimplesof the second body portion extending into the first and second elongatedslots of the second arm in the first engaged position.
 23. The fastenersystem of claim 21, further including a telescoped second engagedposition of the first and second members having the first and secondtabs of the first body portion each in contact with an end wall of thefirst and second elongated slots of the first arm, and the first andsecond tabs of the second body portion each in contact with an end wallof the first and second elongated slots of the second arm.
 24. Thefastener system of claim 20, further including: a first flexible armhomogenously connected to the first arm; and a second flexible armhomogenously connected to the second arm, the first and second flexiblearms operable to elastically displace toward and away from each other.25. The fastener system of claim 24, further including: a firstengagement member homogenously connected to the first body portion andspatially separated from both the first flexible arm and the roundedbase; and a second engagement member homogenously connected to thesecond body portion and spatially separated from both the secondflexible arm and the rounded base, the second engagement member defininga mirror image of the first engagement member.
 26. The fastener systemof claim 25, further including: a vehicle body panel having an apertureadapted to receive the fastener; and an air bag operating to displacethe vehicle component from a first fastener engaged position to a secondfastener engaged position.
 27. The fastener system of claim 26: whereinin the first fastener engaged position the first and second flexiblearms are releasably engaged with the vehicle body panel; and wherein inthe second fastener engaged position the first and second engagementmembers are engaged with the vehicle body panel.
 28. The fastener systemof claim 27: wherein in the first fastener engaged position a force ofapproximately 50 pounds longitudinally applied to the fastener isrequired to release the first and second flexible arms from engagementwith the vehicle body panel; and wherein in the second fastener engagedposition a second force of approximately 200 pounds longitudinallyapplied to the fastener is required to yield the first and secondengagement members.
 29. The fastener system of claim 20: wherein thefastener includes a plurality of dimples created on each of the firstand second body portions, the plurality of dimples positioned within thefirst and second elongated slots of the first and second arms in a firstengaged position of the fastener; and wherein a telescoped secondposition of the fastener has the plurality of dimples of each of thefirst and second body portions displaced out of the first and secondelongated slots of both the first and second members.
 30. The fastenersystem of claim 20, wherein the first and second tabs slidingly receivedin one of the first or second slots includes the first and second tabsof the first body portion slidingly positioned within the first andsecond elongated slots of the first arm and the first and second tabs ofthe second body portion slidingly positioned within the first and secondelongated slots of the second arm.
 31. A method for retaining a vehiclecomponent in engagement with a vehicle body panel during deployment ofan air bag using a fastener, the fastener including a rounded basehaving a flat portion, first and second arms oriented transverse to theflat portion, and first and second sets of vehicle panel engagementdevices, comprising: homogenously connecting a first set of vehiclepanel engagement devices to the fastener proximate to the rounded base;homogenously extending a second set of vehicle panel engagement devicesfrom the fastener spatially separated from both the first set of vehiclepanel engagement devices and the rounded base; and molding a dog-househomogenously with the vehicle component; creating a cavity in thedog-house adapted to slidably receive the rounded base and engage therounded base to the dog-house to releasably connect the fastener to thevehicle component in a sub-assembly; inserting the fastener of thesub-assembly into an aperture of a vehicle body panel until the firstset of vehicle panel engagement devices releasably engages the vehiclebody panel in a first engaged position; and displacing the vehiclecomponent during deployment of the air bag from the first engagedposition to a second engaged position having the second set of vehiclepanel engagement devices engaged with the vehicle body panel.
 32. Themethod of claim 31, further comprising: sliding the rounded base intothe cavity of the dog-house in a first direction; and orienting thefastener with respect to the dog-house so a force applied to the vehiclecomponent during deployment of the air bag acts in a second directiontransverse to the first direction.
 33. The method of claim 31, furthercomprising slidably connecting a member to the fastener prior to theinserting step having the second set of vehicle panel engagement deviceshomogenously connected to the member so the second set of vehicle panelengagement devices can telescopically slide with respect to the roundedbase to an extended position during the displacing step.